Ryan Again Faces License Grilling

January 29, 2000|By Raoul V. Mowatt, Tribune Staff Writer.

Gov. George Ryan traveled to Chicago's South Side on Friday to promote a job training effort, but he quickly found that agenda eclipsed by questions about the ongoing federal corruption probe into the secretary of state's office that he headed.

As he did on Thursday, Ryan said he accepts personal responsibility for the bribes-for-licenses scandal that occurred during his tenure as secretary of state, from 1991 until he became governor last January.

On Wednesday, Dean Bauer, Ryan's inspector general in the secretary's office, told the Tribune he expected to be indicted soon. If that happens, he would be the highest official and the closest to Ryan's inner circle implicated.

The federal investigation has resulted in 28 indictments and 17 convictions, including eight former secretary of state employees who were convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for commercial driver's licenses. Some of the bribe money was channeled into Ryan's campaign fund.

On Friday, Ryan said he would promote legislation making it illegal for state employees to contribute to political campaigns. He already has issued an executive order to the same effect.

Ryan, who at times appeared testy about the questioning, said Friday that his statements would be his last publicly on the scandal. He denied any personal wrongdoing, promised to continue to cooperate with federal investigators and issued another apology to the state's voters.

"The buck stops here," Ryan said.

"I'm angry at myself for not recognizing the problems earlier," he said. "But unfortunately, there isn't anything I can do that is going to change any of that."

In response to a question, Ryan said he had no intention of resigning over the scandal.

Asked for specifics about his meeting recently with federal investigators, Ryan said, "I don't think it's appropriate for me or for anyone outside of the United States attorney's office to discuss any of the particulars that fit into this investigation."